In the wake of Josh Gilliland’s death, friends of the bartender demanded justice after the hit-and-run driver remained elusive for months. (Photo courtesy 10News)
A North Park man has been charged with second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the hit-and-run death of a beloved bartender who was struck by a car while he was walking to work in June in University Heights.
Joshua Gilliland, 47, was struck on June 10 in a marked crosswalk at 8:46 p.m. at the three-way intersection of El Cajon Boulevard, Park Boulevard and Normal Street. He was on his way to work at Cheers, but was knocked unconscious and died four days later from head injuries in a hospital.
The alleged hit-and-run driver, Brandon Allen Janik, 37, was arrested Sept. 5 by San Diego Police in Hillcrest and is being held in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail.
Janik took his damaged 2022 BMW to a car repair store on June 15 and is also charged with two counts of filing a false auto insurance claim as he apparently misstated the reason for damages to his BMW.
Janik pleaded not guilty to all charges. He worked at a grocery store. Attorneys made no arguments about bail during his arraignment on Sept. 7, so San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers declined to set any bail for him.
“We haven’t discussed the facts of the case yet and there is still investigation ongoing,” said Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans. “Given the investigation thus far, (it) shows he was impaired for the purposes of driving.”
Details about the case were not discussed in the arraignment and a preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 15. Because that date is close to Thanksgiving, it may be delayed.
It is unusual for a hit-and-run driver to be charged with murder, but court records show the defendant, Janik has been convicted of drunk driving before. Prosecutors like to argue it shows a pattern of behavior.
He is also charged with hit and run with death, and driving under the influence of alcohol with a prior DUI conviction in 2016.
Janik has pleaded not guilty. He lived in North Park and worked at a grocery store. He remains in the George F. Bailey Detention Facility without bail.
A celebration of Joshua Gilliland’s life was held on July 8 in Hillcrest. He worked at Cheers for 21 years after moving to San Diego from Kansas in 2001 with his longtime friend Scott Moore.
There was a vigil on June 15 to “finish Josh’s walk” in which 100 people attended to draw attention to the intersection where he died that some described as dangerous.
